Cortana, once a flagship feature of Windows phones, is slowly being shut down - eviltoast
  • Saintpaul@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I ask Siri to make phones calls and set a timer. I know these companies wanted us to use voice assistants more often but for me it was always faster to pick up my phone and do it myself. This reminds me of last year when articles were circulating about Amazons Alexa costing the company $3bn in the first quarter of 2022.

    • Thrife@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      I tried using Bixby to set a calendar entry in 30 days and it spiraled into the question when the entry should be set. After 3 minutes trying everything I could think of (explicit date/time etc) I stopped and created the entry within seconds manually…

      These assistants are interesting, when they work properly… :/

        • Thrife@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          Yeah true but I was curious what it could do. As it turned out… Not that much.

      • AEsheron@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Ok Google, set an alarm for X minutes, or take me home. Those are literally the only two commands I’ve ever used I think. When I first got the phone I may have asked it to call my contacts a handful of times.

        • Saneless@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Well assistant now has something stupid where “take me to” will open an app if it’s the same or similar name to where you’re going

          On what dumb AI hellhole earth is “take me to” a substitute for open?

      • WarmSoda@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Yeah I’ve tried them but everything is easier to just do yourself. I also feel dumb half-yelling into the air and maybe having it registering that I’m talking to it.

        It’s very much Star Trek stuff, and until you can simply say “Computer, do X” in a normal room volume conversation tone it’ll just be a novelty.

        • Thrife@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          True that. I think it’s also due to the wakeup command you constantly have to say before stating what needs to be done. “Ok Google”, “Hey Bixby” etc aren’t that natural as just speaking.

          But having voice controlled assistants who constantly listen to what you’re saying and act accordingly is another nightmare itself…

    • emptyother@programming.dev
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      1 year ago

      Cortana was pretty good at understanding me. Was much faster to use my voice than touch, for stuff like setting reminders and alarms. Or starting music (it understandably sucked at changing tracks, unless you had headphones).

      I was excited for what else they would make it do. But it became clear MS only goal with it was to advertise stuff. And to US only. And when they failed that, they ripped out any useful features from it.

    • dan1101@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Yeah I tell Google Assistant “Wake me at 8:30AM” or “navigate to 123 Fake St” and it does a good job. I can also tell it “send email to myself” since I made an address book nickname in my own entry called “myself.” Otherwise it never worked.